Electrode holder



Jan. 31, 1939. R, TOWNSEND ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed May 3, l93'7 I 7 lsm'mmmw m.

INVENTOR. 19mm 0N0 Lggmvsm'u BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIEE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to an electrode holder.

The object of my invention is to provide an electrode holder to preferably be used in electric arc welding, either metallic or carbon.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electrode holder having one jaw pivotally connected to the other, and having means to tension the jaws together, having a cable connected to one of the jaws.v

A still further object of my invention is to provide an electrode holder made of a material of a high electrical conductivity, and having suflicient tension on the jaws thereof to hold a welding electrode or carbon stick firmly.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an electrode holder having a jaw and a handle integral thereto and another jaw pivotally connected to the first said jaw, each jaw having replaceable jaw tips made of material more durable than the jaws proper, means within the handle for adjusting the tension on the jaws, a cable connected to the handle through the medium of a lug connector, an insulation tube to slidably engage on the handle covering all connections making a smooth gripping handle, a lever on the last said jaw by which an operator may open the jaw for replacing welding electrodes or carbon sticks when so desired.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an electrode holder having a pair of jaws pivotally connected together, one jaw having a handle integral therewith, the other jaw having a lever as actuating means therefor, a plunger.

and spring within the handle, a screwtake-up plug threadedly engaging in the end of the handle and engaging against the spring as adjusting means for the tension of the spring forcing the plunger against the pivoted jaw thereby tensioning the jaws firmly together; means to connect a cable to the screw take-up plug, an insulationtube to snugly fit on the handle and cover the cable connection, a square guard member threadedly engaging on the end of the insulation tube adjacent to the jaws to prevent-the metal portion of the holder from contacting the surface of the work, the guard member also serving to ward off heat on the operator's hand while gripping the handle of the holder.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an electrode holder that is simple, efllcient and inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate, and compact so it can be used in close places.

These and other objects will hereinafter more fully explained, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters will apply to like parts in the different views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of my electrode holder,- parts removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, part of the upper jaw being removed, the dotted lines showing the different positions in which welding electrodes or carbon sticks may be used.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary portion of the electrode holder handle showing a modified cable connection, parts removed for convenience of illustration.

My invention herein disclosed consists of a handle I having a jaw 2 integrally connected thereto, pivotally connected to the jaw as at 3 is another jaw 4, the last said jaw having a lever 5 extending slightly upward and to the rear thereof; Snugly engaging on the lever 5 is an insulation tube 6 for the purpose of insulating the metal lever from the operator's hand while actuating the same.

. On the gripping end of each of the jaws is a replaceable tip I and I that may be welded, riveted or both as securing means for the tips to their respective jaw. The face of each replaceable jaw tip has a plurality of grooves 8 out therein as shown in Fig. 2 in which welding electrodes or carbon sticks may be inserted at the position 30 desired by the operator.

Slidably engaging in the handle I is a, plunger 9 that will engage against portion Ill of the jaw 4 when the spring H is adjustably tensioned against the plunger 9 through the medium of a screw take-up plug 12 that threadedly engages in the end of the handle I. In order to preserve the tension in the spring I have provided an insulation tube l3 to snugly fit therearound, or the ends of the spring may be insulated from the plunger and the screw take-up plug.

Integral with the screw take-up plug is a conical threaded screw N that will threadedly engage in the threaded end of a hollow body IS, the other end of the hollow body to receive the strands of a cable l6 therein. By holding the body 15 which is preferably hexagon in shape and turning the handle I in clockwise direction, the conical screw will force its way into the strands of the cable wedging the same securely against the inside walls of the hollow body thus making a positive mechanical cable connection. In order to provide the desired tension on the jaws I have provided an aperture H in the screw take-up plug 12 in which a welding rod or the like may be inserted as means for backing oil or tightening the screw take-up plug to vary the tension or the spring against the plunger actuating the jaw as desired by the operator. In order to insulate the electrode holder from the surface of the work I have provided an insulation tube I8 to snugly engage over the cable connection and on to the handle, the end adjacent to the handle having a square insulating guard member l9 threadedly engaging thereon forming a single unit handle that is secured to the handle I by a countersunk screw 20 thread: edly engaging therein. The guard member will function as a means to hold the jaws away from the work when the electrode holder is not in use, or while the electrode holder is being used-in close places. The guard member will also function as a shield to ward off heat on the operator's hand while gripping the handle. The insulation tube l8 will extend sufliciently beyond the cable connection to prevent abrupt bending of the same which in turn prevents the cable strands from being broken by bending of the cable against the metal body l5.

It is now readily seen how an operator may grip the handle of my electrode holder, and by pressing the insulated lever downward, the jaws will be opened sufficiently to receive a welding electrode or carbon stick of any size desired.

While I have shown a mechanical cable connection in Fig. 1 I do not wish to be held to this alone as a hollow screw take-up plug l2 may be employed in which case the cable will be soldered therein, and such other modifications may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In an electrode holder of the class described comprising a jaw and handle integrally con nected, another jaw and lever therefor integrally connected, means .to pivot the jaws together, replaceable tips attached on the outer'ends of the jaws, the tips having a plurality of grooves extending thereacross, a plunger to slidably engage in the handle and against the levered jaw, a spring to' engage against the plunger, an adjustable screw take-up plug to threadedly engage in the end of the handle and against the spring, all functioning as an adjustable tensioning means for the levered jaw against the other jaw, an insulating tube within the handle to snugly engage around th spring as insulating means therefor, means to insulate the spring from the plunger and the screw take-up plug, means to connect a cable to the screw take-up plug, an insulating tube to slidably engage over the cable connection and on to the handle, a guard memher on one end of the last said insulation tube adjacent the pivotal connection.

2. In an electrode holder of the class described comprising a pair of jaws hingedly connected, one jaw having an insulated lever integrally connected thereto as actuating means therefor, the other jaw having a handle integrally connected thereto, replaceable tips attached near the outer ends of the jaws, a plunger within the handle to engage against the levered jaw, an insulated spring to engage against the plunger, means in the end of the handle to vary the tension of the spring against the plunger to vary the tension of the jaw tips together, means to connect a cable to the variable spring tensioning means, the plunger and variable spring tensioning means being insulated from the spring, a guard member on the handleadjacent the hinge point of the jaws, and an insulation tube to slidably engage over the cable connection and on to the handle to close proximity with the guard member.

RAYMOND L. TOWNSEND- 

